Community Impact

Difference Dollars for Service Learning supports 27 student-led community-based projects Clad in chest waders, their life jackets and waterproof gloves, Emma-Leigh Dondale and her classmates prepare to wade into the frigid lakes and wetlands monitored by the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute. The second year Natural Resources Environmental Technology students from Nova Scotia Community College‘s Lunenburg Campus are installing floating platforms they…

Social Services student leads greenhouse build for retirement home For Billy Upton, a new greenhouse filled with fresh herbs and vegetables was the inspiration to help grow a community connection. Last spring, the Social Services student at Nova Scotia Community College‘s Burridge Campus approached the Villa St. Joseph du lac with an idea to build a greenhouse for the residents…

Nova Scotia Community College Radio Television Journalism students win Amnesty International Canada Youth Media Award For their work to bring national attention to the issue of land titles in North Preston, Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Community College students Kristen Brown, Nic Meloney, Whitney Middleton and their fellow Radio Television Journalism (RTJ) students at the College’s Waterfront Campus, have been awarded the Amnesty…

Marconi Metal Fabrication students and faculty help rebuild a lost landmark At the heart of Whitney Pier, Nova Scotia’s Polish community, a broken bell, bits of stained glass and a few pages of hymns were all that remained of St. Mary’s Polish Church when it was destroyed in a fire in October 2014. When it…

Carpentry class builds gazebo for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities Seeking out opportunities to help the local community, while developing a sense of civic-mindedness in his students, is of the utmost importance to Jim Swayne, carpentry instructor at Nova Scotia Community College’s Marconi Campus. Over the last four years, Jim and his students have contributed to carpentry…

A lack of accessible services is too often the reality for residents of northern and rural First Nations communities. To help solve this problem, Capilano University is working with Carrier Sekani Family Services and local health professionals on a pilot project funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education. The year-long Rehabilitation Therapy Support Skills pilot…

Capilano University has helped learners in Vancouver’s poverty-stricken Downtown Eastside gain the basic skills they need to improve their lives for more than 20 years. In partnership with the Carnegie Community Centre, Capilano University’s Community Development and Outreach department (CDO) runs the Carnegie Learning Centre in the Downtown Eastside with 55 volunteers. Instructors and volunteers…

The call came in as a biking injury in northern Chilliwack, recalled Justin Woodroff, a 24-year-old paramedic with the BC Ambulance Service. The patient had crashed on one of the jumps at the bike park. When he and his partner arrived, Justin could see this was no routine injury. “He was under a blanket but…

When Shauntelle Nichols needed help, the police were there for her. Today she’s a police officer herself, ready to be there for others in need. For the last several years, Shauntelle has drawn on her experience of officers helping make her feel safe to motivate and inspire her in her studies and efforts to be…

Lana Fox was working at the Portland Hotel Society in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside when she noticed her peers and colleagues were suffering. Her role involved supporting clients with mental health and addictions issues through housing, safe injection and other programs. But before the opioid overdose epidemic made national news headlines and was declared a public…

Steve Oishi was working at the Big White Fire Department when the call came in of a car that had crashed head-on into a tree on the side of the road. On arrival, the fire crew found the dash had crumpled and pinned the driver inside. As a graduate of the pre-employment firefighter training program…

What could be better than checking out our new view book, taking a tour, and meeting with our instructors? Living a day in the life of one of our students, of course. “I came in the morning,” said Student-for-a-Day Alexandre Allard, then a twelfth-grade student at Sugarloaf Senior High. “The students were doing stuff with…

We tend to doubt our abilities to do the things we have never tried before. We intuitively gravitate toward the safe and familiar, the sure and reliable. We put projects on hold until some future moment when we will be better equipped, more knowledgeable, ready. Samaqani Cocahq (Natalie Sappier) has burned her doubts in a fire of…

Do you fit in yet? Cat Squires does. Graphic Designer Extraordinaire, Expressive Artist, Gender Fluid Person, Borderline Personality Disorder Manager, Non-Profit Supporter, Loving Daughter, Proud Mother, Devoted Wife. Depending on which direction you approach Cat, you could try to label them a hundred different ways. They are all of these things – but cannot be…

Finding a place to live can be a daunting task during the best of times, especially one that fits your budget. It’s for that reason that College of the North Atlantic (CNA) and Habitat for Humanity Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) want to continue working together, to provide a solution to this ongoing problem for families…

from NSCC: NSCC is committed to accelerating student and community innovation and entrepreneurial capacity. NSCC is committed to the success of Nova Scotia’s diverse students, cultures and communities. We do this by: Enhancing applied research We partner with key industries and sectors on research projects to support their growth and prepare our students for a…

from Niagara This Week: A lot has changed over the years but, then again, much has stayed the same. Since its inception 20 years ago, Niagara College’s Many Hands Project has grown immensely in scope from a humble build of a few sheds and gardens at All People’s Daycare in Welland with a budget of…

Third-year nursing students at Selkirk College have a unique opportunity to develop their nursing skills and knowledge of the social factors that shape health on the streets of Nelson. They work with local agencies to help people in the community who may be dealing with issues of housing insecurity, addictions and untreated mental illness. It’s…

A new program developed by Okanagan College in collaboration with local First Nations communities and regional Aboriginal organizations will prepare learners to step into community support work assisting Aboriginal individuals and families. The Aboriginal Community Support Worker Certificate program launches on November 28 at the College’s Salmon Arm campus. It will include a practicum with…

North Island College’s Office of Global Engagement is spearheading a new social media campaign to highlight students in the community. The stories are loosely based on the successful Humans of New York campaign, which profiled New Yorkers. Students of NIC initially profiles international students at NIC, showcasing their journey, passion and activities in the community.…

from DurhamRegion.com: The next phase of Habitat for Humanity’s Centre Town project is underway and the organization is hoping to see lots of hands on deck for the newest phase. A group of 911 responders recently spent a hot August day putting in the floor joists for four homes that represent phase 3A of Habitat…

Olds College and the Mountain View Food Bank have partnered in a collaboration designed to address the growing demand for food in our community. Using our expertise and program facilities, Olds College will be giving back to the community that has supported us for many years. The goal of this initiative is to support the…

from NBCC: Launched in 2014, NBCC’s award-winning Robertson Institute for Community Leadership is mobilizing students, staff, alumni and Board members College-wide to transform lives and communities. Built upon NBCC’s tradition of giving back, our Signature Learning Experience (community leadership) is at the heart of the NBCC experience. Our commitment through the Robertson Institute for Community…

Everyone has a story to tell, and as part of this year’s Orientation Week activities Yukon College is inviting a few Yukoners to share their stories to help strengthen the connection between College students and the local community. The story-sharing event, which will take place on Tuesday, September 5, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in…

from The Oshawa Express: A single person’s life is filled with countless stories. Some of them happy, some of them sad, some exciting and other times tragic; for one local artist, those stories can be the gateway to something bigger, and she’s looking to channel that idea into her latest project. Dani Crosby, an Oshawa…

A first-of-its-kind Indigenous studies program launching this fall at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) will focus on community and justice. KPU aptly announced its new minor in Indigenous community justice program on National Aboriginal Day. “My hope is that this minor will play a role in honouring, acknowledging, and respecting Indigenous peoples,” said criminology instructor Dr.…

Conestoga has launched a new community-based supportive care fast-track training and education opportunity in partnership with ONE CARE Home & Community Support Services. Students who successfully complete the training will have the necessary skills and knowledge to provide personal care to clients in home and community settings throughout Stratford and Huron Perth. “We turned to…

from The Chronicle Herald: During the winter and spring of 2017, students at the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) are being invited to submit ideas for projects that will not only apply the knowledge they are learning at the NSCC, but which will also better life in the province. “Difference Dollars for Service Learning is…

from TB News Watch: Through donations, product sales and department competitions, the students and employees at Confederation College have raised $55,315 in support of its students, the United Way and “Stock the Bank”, an internal campaign in support of the Emergency Student Food Bank at the College. “I am consistently amazed, but never surprised at…

Boxes of donated warm clothing that have been jamming the halls where Okanagan College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program lives are on their way to making a difference for Kelowna’s disadvantaged. The first- and second-year students who sit on the BSN’s Global Health committee – a civically-minded, student-led initiative for social equity –…

The Anglican Church Thrift Store in Watson Lake will be one-half larger when it reopens this spring. The 780-square foot store has a 480 square foot addition. The construction was done entirely by students in the Skills for Employment Carpentry program run by the town’s Yukon College community campus. “We are extremely happy with the…

On February 25, people will take to the streets of downtown Nelson to increase awareness about homelessness in the community and raise funds to help continue renovations at Ward Street Place. There are two, five and 10 kilometre walks which give participants the opportunity to experience a few hours outside in the cold, a hint…

A dozen graduates from College of the North Atlantic (CNA) volunteered at the annual Eat the Hill event in Clarenville, working side-by-side with professional chefs to serve hundreds of people at the two-day food festival. Eat the Hill, which is organized by CNA culinary arts instructor Chris Sheppard and former instructor Roger Dewling, incorporates winter…

from the Peterborough Examiner: The tax clinics began on Tuesday and will continue March 21 and 28 and April 4 from noon to 4 p.m. They will be located in the Galleria (B3200) at Sutherland Campus, 599 Brealey Dr., Peterborough. To be eligible for the free clinics, individuals must have a simple tax situation and…

from CBC: Giving back to the community has become a part of the work in Holland College’s Travel and Tourism Management class. Instructor Jennifer Lawton says students who specialize in events coordination learn how to plan an event from start to finish with a focus on fundraising for local non-profits. “That is where they start planning an event, in…

from the Prince Albert Daily Herald: A new program is seeing paramedics get out of the ambulance and into the community. Saskatchewan Polytechnic recently graduated the first class of Saskatchewan community paramedics. One of those first graduates is Sheldon Hirschfeld, an advanced care paramedic with Parkland Ambulance. He’s already out in the community, hoping his…

Since Selkirk College alumni began transitioning into the regional workforce in the late-1960s, individuals educated close to home have helped build and grow the economy of the West Kootenay and Boundary region. As the college embarks on a celebration of its first 50 years and looks towards the next half-century, an exploration of the relationship…

Selkirk College Students taking the Leadership for Peace course recently showcased their learning projects aimed at promoting peace directly in their communities. From idea to implementation, students learned about the trials and triumphs of working toward social transformation. A group of eight Selkirk College students recently showcased their Peace Studies service learning projects that took them from…

from Blackburn News: Lambton College has received national recognition from Big Brothers and Big Sisters Canada. President Judith Morris accepted the post-secondary partnership award at the Lambton College Event Centre Thursday morning. “Our agency right here in Sarnia-Lambton nominated us for this award,” says Morris. “I think it’s because of 30 years of great partnership. The…

from Maclean’s: People aren’t usually fans of bugs—not in their houses, not in their rooms and certainly not in their beds. So it stands to reason they don’t want them scurrying under their feet in their gardens, either. The User Network for Insects in the Urban Garden, or UNIBUG, is trying to convince you otherwise.…

Centennial College has worked in partnership with the Education for Employment (EFE) Project in Peru since February 2015. Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) developed institutional partnerships between Peruvian technical institutes and Canadian colleges, institutes and polytechnics as part of the program. Centennial’s role in the project has included design and implementation of curriculum, strengthening of…

The Kinsmen Express Train at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm & Zoo has been given a new lease on life thanks to several students in the Auto Body Technician and Automotive Service Technician programs. “These students got to make some lasting memories, and help other people make lasting memories as well,” says Scott Kucharyshen, Auto body…

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is home to an important training ground for the next generation of Saskatchewan’s culinary masters. The Culinary Arts program, offered at the Saskatoon campus, is led by program head and long-time chef Derek Cotton and teaches students ‘a little bit of everything’ in the culinary world. “Our program is designed to prepare students…

A dynamic team of sharply dressed hospitality students from Camosun College prepared a delicious dinner of herb encrusted pork loin with autumn squash puree, green beans and roasted potatoes for over 600 diners at Our Place Society last Monday evening. Our Place provides vital services to our region’s most vulnerable citizens, including regular meals—over 745,000…

Students Train for Automotive Service and Auto Body Technician Careers by Fixing Total Loss Vehicles It all started with a Pontiac Sunfire in 2002. Since then, nearly 250 vehicles have been repaired by Saskatchewan Polytechnic Automotive Service and Auto Body Technician certificate students. Today, a long-running but little-known partnership between Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) Salvage…

Saskatchewan’s national notoriety for good eats has been steadily growing over the past few years. With master chefs looking to call the prairie province home, it seems appropriate that Saskatchewan Polytechnic is home to an important training ground for the next generation culinary masters. The Culinary Arts program is led by long-time chef Derek Cotton…

Penny Jean Wohlberg is a journeyperson carpenter and owner of Renovation Jeannie. She is also a strong supporter of Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Women in Trades & Technology (WITT) program. “For me it all started with WITT,” says Penny. “WITT is all about empowering women and giving them confidence. WITT was the catalyst that kick-started my career…

Patient-oriented research is becoming the norm for health-related research, and for good reasons. It focuses on patient priorities and outcomes and includes patients as active collaborators throughout the research process. “Patient-oriented research engages patients as partners and improves patient outcomes,” says Dr. Susan Blum, associate vice-president, Applied Research and Innovation. “This innovative, applied approach aims…

What do an anthropologist and a photographer have in common? A pure obsession with storytelling. Little wonder that Kelly Baker was drawn to pursue both career paths. In fact, before entering the photography program, she had already completed a PhD in Anthropology: “I went to school for a lot of years to become an anthropologist,…

The new billboards on display in downtown Fredericton are designed to intrigue your sense of thought – they reframe the concept of how a typical billboard is used and showcase colourful eye-catching designs that each have a story to tell. This project flips the marketing norms to use billboards as exhibition space, and to give…

To mark Centennial College’s 50th anniversary as well as Canada’s 150th birthday, the college commissioned an outdoor mural at the new Centennial Residence and Culinary Arts Centre (CRCA) at Progress Campus. The winning design, entitled ‘Dare to Achieve’ by artist Gavin MacDougall, a graduate from Centennial’s Fine Arts Studio program, was unveiled on June 22. “Art that’s in the…

Selkirk College recently awarded family nurse practitioner Patrice Gordon with the Distinguished Alumna honour at the Graduation 2017 ceremony held at the Castlegar Campus. The earnest professional provides compassionate care to isolated First Nations communities in British Columbia’s Chilcotin region while responding to crises world-wide as part of the Canadian Red Cross Emergency Response Unit.…

Building on an educational foundation for both elementary and college students, the Selkirk College Digital Arts & New Media Program joined forces with Hume Elementary School for a spirited project that brought to life some wonderful creatures. From the minds of Hume Elementary School students to the computer screens of Selkirk College Digital Arts & New…

Selkirk College now has a Sexual Violence Policy in place making a clear commitment to creating and maintaining a safe and respectful learning, working and living environment. “The safety and well-being of our students and staff is of vital importance,” says Selkirk College President Angus Graeme. “This is an important step in letting everyone know that…

In December 2016, the second Habitat for Humanity home was moved to its permanent location in Prince Albert. This is the second house Saskatchewan Polytechnic carpentry students have built for Habitat for Humanity. In February 2015, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Habitat for Humanity, Prince Albert, signed a memorandum of agreement for carpentry students to build five…

In Fall 2016, Langara launched Writing Lives: the Holocaust Survivor Memoir Project. Writing Lives is a one-time two-semester project at Langara College, coordinated by English instructor Dr. Rachel Mines, in which second-year students are connected with local Holocaust survivors to interview them and write memoirs of their lives before, during and after the Holocaust. An interdisciplinary initiative, the…

Overcoming obstacles on the way to a successful educational pathway is something the majority of post-secondary students can understand. A recent graduate on Nelson’s Silver King Campus knows what it’s like to stare into the face of adversity and triumph. As a residential school survivor, Selkirk College student Running Wolf has dealt with numerous challenges…

A world-renowned pre-accelerator program, Lean LaunchPad is taught at over 200 universities worldwide, and back in February the team at Algonquin launched their very own version of the class. Although the AC version differed, in various ways, from the original, they both had at their core, the idea that participants ‘get out of the building’…

The line between artist and administrator has never been so blurry than in Felt/Mixed Media Artist and Craft NB Executive Director Alison Murphy. Alison the artist was born in her father’s studio. Touching his brushes, his palette, and his creativity, she developed a love for colour and for collecting. After graduating in 2004 with a…

Chavah Lindsay of Chavah Designs has the honour this year of being the only designer showcased in both of the premiere New Brunswick Fashion events this spring: The New Brunswick College of Craft & Design (NBCCD) Annual Fashion Show in Fredericton and the NB Heart Truth Red Dress Event in Moncton. Chavah is creating two…

from Charles Gaffney, Department Head, NBCCD: In 2013, I had a vision regarding our graduating students of the Aboriginal Visual Arts (AVA) Program at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (NBCCD). How great would it be for them to transition from college to a supporting entrepreneurial environment that would enable them to refine their business…

Good partnerships don’t grow on trees. You find them buried in the mud. Amy Sullivan and Rachel Greenwood are mud goddesses. Both have been making a living with their work since graduating from the NBCCD Ceramics Diploma in 2006. Both of their respective businesses, Amy Laloon Pottery & Greenwood Pottery, are well known in the Maritimes. Now they have partnered…

from the Daily Observer: On Dec. 6, Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus in Pembroke held an Applied Research Day to give students in the Environmental Technician (E-Tech) Program the opportunity to showcase their work. The E-Tech Program, which was founded five years ago, is a compressed diploma that can be completed in 18 months whereas other…

from Metro Ottawa: “A prominent Ottawa doctor has teamed up with graphic-design prodigies to convince children to get vaccinated. Immunization Warriors is a digital comic book that aims to get children thinking differently about needles and go over the heads of reluctant parents. Comparing viruses to invading extra-terrestrials, the comic aims to explain the role of white…

The unique George Brown College Institute without Boundaries (IwB), a Toronto-based educational program and design studio, works to achieve social, ecological, and economic innovation through design collaboration. from George Brown College: “The Institute without Boundaries (IwB) was founded in 2003 by the School of Design at George Brown College, in consultation with Bruce Mau. The…